Dakota County, NE — January 29, 2026, one person was injured due to a truck accident shortly after 7:30 a.m. along 39th Street.

According to authorities, an 18-wheeler hauling fertilizer was traveling on 39th Street near 5th Street when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the truck failed to maintain its lane of travel, veering off of the roadway crashing on some nearby train tracks. The driver reportedly sustained serious injuries over the course of the accident and was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment.

Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identity of the victim—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When an 18-wheeler hauling fertilizer leaves the roadway and crashes onto nearby train tracks, the immediate concern is why the driver lost control in the first place—and whether anything about the vehicle, the load, or the environment contributed to that loss of control.

This wasn’t a minor lane drift. For a truck to leave the road entirely and strike something as remote as a rail line, it suggests a substantial deviation from normal operation. Whether that deviation was the result of fatigue, distraction, mechanical failure, or a medical emergency is exactly what investigators now have to determine.

In a case like this, several factors should be considered:

• Driver condition at the time of the crash, including whether they were alert, rested, or experienced any kind of health issue;
• Whether the truck experienced a mechanical failure, such as brake or steering malfunction, that prevented the driver from staying on course;
• What the roadway environment looked like, including curves, shoulder drop-offs, or soft edges that could contribute to an overcorrection;
• Whether the fertilizer load was properly secured and evenly distributed, since shifting cargo can cause instability, particularly on narrow roads;
• What ECM and dash cam data show, especially regarding steering, speed, and brake input leading up to the crash.

I’ve seen cases where a trucker hauling agricultural or industrial material encountered a sharp curve or was momentarily distracted and left the road—only to be pulled further off course by the momentum of a shifting load. In others, the vehicle itself was overdue for maintenance, and a mechanical failure sealed the outcome.

Key Takeaways:

• A truck leaving the roadway and ending up on train tracks indicates a serious breakdown in driver control or vehicle stability.
• Investigators should examine both mechanical integrity and cargo securement, especially with bulk materials like fertilizer.
• Driver alertness and medical condition will be key to understanding how and why the vehicle veered off course.
• ECM data may reveal whether there was a late reaction, sudden overcorrection, or equipment issue before the crash.
• Even though no other vehicles were involved, the crash may point to preventable failures in planning, maintenance, or execution.